Cleaning up the East Side.

Come on summer!  I guess a bad thing about my dedication to getting out as much as possible is that I am running out of things to do that can be reasonably accessed from the east.  Two weeks ago, I strung some shorter destinations together with driving between trail heads to be able to get a good day in.
Which brings me to another point, recently discussed with a friend.  Does anyone know how Lisa Foster populated the list of every destination in the park?  I am curious why South Lateral Moraine is named as a destination, yet Bierstadt Moraine isn't.  Along those lines, several unofficially named but ranked summits (Gem Peak, Dundicking) didn't make the cut, while other unofficially named and unranked summits did.  Anyway, just curious.
I started out from the Bierstadt Lake trail head, and aimed for Bierstadt Moraine.  I'd never hiked this trail before, and while it is short, it is also relatively steep and was a bit difficult to follow at times in the snow. 

Seeing clouds like this= windy day!

From part way up the moraine.  The trail was completely dry in some places and under several feet of snow in others.

First I took a detour over to Bierstadt Lake.  Why not?

Then I went back to find Bierstadt Moraine.  To find this feature: once the trail to Bierstadt Lake tops the moraine it will gain a little bit more elevation before going down to the lake.  At this high point simply head east.  The next high point you come to is the top of the moraine.  It should be no more than a five minute walk from the trail.
I descended back to the car and headed to Hollowell Park to get to South Lateral Moraine.  Unfortunately, I wasn't paying total attention and parked at the park and ride for Bear Lake and ascended that high point.  Well, there's not much there in the way of a high point.  I soon realized my error and turned back.
Back on the right track, I ascended the moraine past boulders of all sizes.  I got to the top and went west until I found the uncairned high point.  It looked like this small boulder...

which was as west as you could go on the moraine before it lost elevation to form a saddle between it and Steep Mountain.
Back at the car once again, I drove down to the Moraine Park Museum (opposite where you'd turn to go to Fern Lake th) to get to Eagle Cliff Mountain.  I parked in the lot and set out uphill.  

This was a fun little summit.  If you just aim for the high point, you'll likely encounter some cliff faces.  You can traverse around them to keep it easy or ascend them if you want a little spice.  I wanted a little spice.  This was up to fourth class.

Deer Mountain from the summit of Eagle Cliff Mountain.

This looks back west along the short ridge of Eagle Cliff Mountain.
Back down and in the car once again, I drove to the Deer Mountain th.  There was a little bit of snow near the bottom, which steadily increased as I gained altitude.
The true summit is very far east on the peak, so you actually loose some elevation after it feels like you've topped out.  

A large and flat summit cairn.

Longs Peak from the summit of Deer Mountain.

The short mountain in the middle of this photo is Eagle Cliff Mountain.  

On the way back I "ascended" the rather unremarkable Deer Ridge west.  The high point appears to be immediately off the trail on your left after the trail takes a sharp left near the th. 
Back at the car once again, I felt like I had a full day despite gaining no elevation greater than the 10013 feet of Deer Mountain.  It is always good to get out and fun to get to some of these minor destinations on the east side of the park!
Bierstadt Moraine:
1.2 miles each way, 640 foot gain (8860-9500).  Moderate-.
South Lateral Moraine:
.3 miles each way, 540 foot gain (8180-8720).  Moderate-.
Eagle Cliff Mountain:
.5 miles each way, 786 foot gain (8120-8906).  Moderate-.
Deer Mountain:
3.1 miles each way, 1093 foot gain (8920-10013).  Moderate.
Deer Ridge West:
.1 miles each way, 92 foot gain (9012-8920).  Easy-.

Steep Mountain and Bierstadt Lake via Flattop?

Bierstadt Lake via Flattop?  Well, our original plan for this week was to ascend Flattop up to the divide, and head north, gaining some of the easier peaks there.  When we pulling into the parking lot at Bear Lake, we could see clouds hanging on the divide, but decided to go up anyway, hoping things would clear in the time it took us to get there.  

But, no such luck was had.  We broke treeline, and it got windier and colder, with blowing snow.  We could see north onto the divide now, and with previous miserable experience of being on it in full wind, plus conditions ahead looking like a full white out, I suggested that rather than press on and get a bit higher but not ascend any peaks, we turn back and go for some of the minor stuff around the area.

So we did.  

However, conditions are good on Flattop.  The trail is mostly mashed in and visible the whole way up.  It disappears around tree line, but by then you can tell where you are going anyway.  On a nicer day it would be awesome to get up here.

Dan in the wind on Flattop.

Around tree line looking south.  Based on our elevation compared to surroundings, we got to over 11500 feet before turning around.
We took the connecting trail from Flattop to Bierstadt.  When we got there, we circled most of the way around to find a good vantage point to look up to the peaks.  Things were still not looking good up there, and the wind coming of the lake cut through our clothing.  A short bite to eat and we got back to the trees.

High peaks over Bierstadt.

Bierstadt via Flattop= alot of elevation gain and subsequent loss. 

Otis Peak.

Looks nice.  Bierstadt isn't too difficult to get to and certainly offers some great views.
It was still relatively early in the day, but we were feeling the gain and loss of several thousand feet, and had several hundred feet of loss and gain and back to get to Steep Mountain.  Dan said he was game if I broke trail.  We were relatively close, so we went for it.
Breaking trail did not prove to be a concern for the most part.  The trail down to Mill Creek Basin was in relatively good shape though still snow covered, and from there we took the trail toward Cub Lake, which for the time we were on it, was completely dry.  We took this trail up until things somewhat flattened out but before reaching the high point, and turned east to head for Steep Mountain.
There are several obvious high points that you'll pass pretty early on, but none of these are the true summit.  From some of these you might be able to see through the trees a sandy plateau to the east.  This is where you want to aim yourself.  Though it looked far away, there wasn't all that much bush to bushwhack through, and it didn't take all that long for us to get to the summit.

And what a summit it is!  While only being 9500 feet in elevation, this peak offers a grand view of vast areas of the park.

From Longs and friends...

To the high peaks on the divide...

More...

Stones Peak and a look at some of the Fern Lake burn area...

Points north- Mummy Range...

And a little closer in.  When done from Hallowell Park or even as an add on to Bierstadt, I could see this peak being within the realm of ability for many. 

The summit block.
Again the wind was ripping here, and a quick snack was all that was needed before we headed back down and then back up...
On the way back to Bear Lake we saw a few footprints, but it wasn't until we got back to the Flattop trail that we started to see some people.  Tourist season has definitely started, as the empty parking lot at 7am was now teeming with people.  I always find it fun to see how many different state license plates are there, and who has come the farthest.  I think the visitor from Ontario, Canada won on this day.
In short, if you don't feel like going on a huge hike but still want something with a little challenge that will provide great views, add Steep Mountain to your list.
Steep Mountain and Bierstadt Lake via Bear Lake TH:
Bierstadt Lake: 2 miles one way, -34 foot gain (though the up and down makes this harder than it sounds).  Moderate-.
Steep Mountain: 3.4ish miles one way, 88 foot gain (again the loss and gain makes this harder).  Moderate.
Along the way you'll also pass though Mill Creek Basin, a pretty place to stop for a snack.